Siddaramaiah Resigns as Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar Set to Take Over Amid Congress Leadership Transition
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday officially resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding the party’s leadership transition in the state.
The veteran leader submitted his resignation at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s Special Secretary Prabhu Shankar received the letter as the Governor was away from the state.
Addressing a packed press conference alongside Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah confirmed that he stepped down following instructions from the Congress high command.
“I have tendered my resignation from the Chief Minister’s post,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, adding that he had always maintained he would resign whenever directed by the party leadership.
The Congress veteran expressed gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for giving him the opportunity to serve Karnataka as Chief Minister for a second term.
“The high command directed me two days ago to step down, and accordingly, I submitted my resignation today. I thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for trusting me with the responsibility to serve the people of Karnataka twice,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is widely expected to succeed Siddaramaiah, accompanied him along with several cabinet ministers during the resignation process.
The leadership transition comes amid long-standing political discussions within the Karnataka Congress. After the party’s victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were both considered strong contenders for the Chief Minister’s post. Eventually, the Congress leadership appointed Siddaramaiah as CM while Shivakumar was made Deputy Chief Minister.
Political observers had earlier speculated about a possible “rotational chief minister” arrangement between the two senior leaders, although the Congress party never officially confirmed such an agreement.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah reportedly hosted a breakfast meeting for cabinet colleagues at his residence, where he informed ministers about his decision to step down and conveyed that Shivakumar would likely take over as the next Chief Minister as per party directions.
The development marks a major political transition in Karnataka and is expected to have significant implications for the Congress party ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
